Chapter 135: Chapter 103: A Paper that Stunned the Entire Hall_3
“Why have you come?”
Li Hao felt a trace of surprise, and his gaze swiftly swept behind the other, but seeing no other students, he relaxed.
Given the status and position of Tan Palace, there was no need to get involved; after all, Tan Palace’s students were everywhere. If they became too closely tied to the Divine General Mansion, it might not bode well.
Some relationships are best kept at arm’s length, more durable and less likely to be destroyed.
“I came with my father,” Zhou Zheng said respectfully.
Li Hao nodded in realization and gestured for him to sit down, not to be constrained by formality.
The two casually began to discuss poetry, and many people who saw Zhou Zheng speaking with Li Hao were surprised, memorizing the appearance of this youth to avoid offending him in the future.
When the time reached high noon.
Li Tian Gang led the full hall of guests, calling Li Hao to his side with Yu Xuan. Father and son walked at the front, followed by the Sword Saint and the other esteemed guests, on their way to Chen Hefang’s courtyard.
The place was already a sea of people, packed to the brim.
Liu Yue Rong and others had already arrived early to support Li Qianfeng, and the guests who came for him had also settled in their seats.
According to their status and position, seats were filled from the inner courtyard to the outer courtyard.
As Li Tian Gang and the others arrived, the noise of the crowd quieted down slightly, and all eyes turned towards them.
When they saw Jian Wudao beside Li Tian Gang, many people’s expressions changed slightly, and they exclaimed in low voices.
Many had not expected Li Tian Gang to be able to invite the venerable Sword Saint to support his son. After all, this was a top-tier expert of the Four Stands Realm, and it was said that he was indifferent to fame and fortune, spending most of his time in meditative seclusion at his sword hermitage, yet he had been persuaded to come down the mountain.
However, when some learned that Li Hao’s betrothed was a disciple of the Sword Saint, they found it less surprising.
After entering the inner courtyard, under the arrangements of the housekeeper at the side of the elderly matriarch, based on their official ranks, Jianghu status, and cultivation levels, everyone was meticulously and carefully seated, a task of great detail and magnitude, and it was crucial to avoid mistakes.
After all, most of those present held great importance on “reputation.”
Jian Wudao and his disciples naturally entered the inner courtyard.
As they arrived, the chatter among Liu Yue Rong’s guests quietened significantly, and apprehensive glances were cast their way.
The four disciples around Jian Wudao revealed a hint of a smirk and pride in their eyes, scanning the young Li of the Li Family not far away.
Thinking back to the other’s disrespectful words earlier, they sneered inwardly.
Look at this, this is the face your master brings you!
“Sword Saint, it’s been a long time,”
Several figures approached, with the Bodhisattva from Mount Wuliang standing in the middle.
The Bodhisattva had a fair complexion, middle-aged appearance, dressed in clean kasaya, with hair as black as ink jade, smiling as he spoke.
Jian Wudao’s gaze condensed slightly; the Bodhisattva from Mount Wuliang was not an existence to be trifled with.
“I didn’t expect to encounter you here, Jian Wudao.”
Another middle-aged man beside the Bodhisattva, clothed in fine garments and looking contemptuously around, said.
Jian Wudao replied indifferently, “The dispute between the sword and the saber has not been settled yet. We’ll have a chance to test it again.”
The man was a saber saint from the north. Many years ago, he had sparred with Jian Wudao, but there was no outcome.
“Meeting for the first time, I have long heard of the great name of the Sword Saint, haha…” another elder laughed.
He was short in stature, dressed in a green robe, with a beard that hung down to his abdomen.
Jian Wudao’s expression was calm, “Isn’t the Monster Suppression Department supposed to be suppressing demons?”
“Just here for a drink, it won’t be a delay,” the elder replied with a smile.
The other guests at the tables all held their breath slightly.
It was rare to see such top figures on ordinary days, and now, four powerful figures from the Four Stands Realm were present all at once.
The disciples standing behind Jian Wudao also showed subtle changes in their expressions, having originally thought that with their master backing Li Hao, they would at least be evenly matched. They hadn’t expected the other side to have brought three figures.
After a brief clash, they all returned to their seats.
Jian Wudao’s expression was cold as he glanced at Li Tian Gang and said, “If you had only invited me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to contain the situation.”
Li Tian Gang gave a wry smile; he had anticipated this and said, “There’s another senior on his way.”
“Who is it?”
“The master of Heavenly Sword Mountain.”
Jian Wudao’s gaze shifted slightly as he said, “So it’s that fellow, I haven’t seen him in a long time.”
Li Tian Gang sighed to himself; it was a pity that even with that person’s arrival, they would still be slightly inferior. However, the gap wasn’t too wide now.
He looked at his son Li Hao, who seemed totally unconcerned, and felt helpless. The Sword Saint had been invited by Xue’er, and the master of Heavenly Sword Mountain by himself. His son, despite his high cultivation level, had no network of social connections.
As Li Tian Gang sighed inwardly, suddenly a voice reached the inner courtyard:
“Announce—Arhat from Mount Wuliang pays a visit!”
Shortly after, a middle-aged man in a kasaya walked into the inner courtyard with a smile. Upon seeing the Bodhisattva seated among the honored guests, he immediately nodded and recited a Buddhist chant.
Then, after scanning the area where Li Tian Gang and his party were seated and noticing only a sparse table of guests, he seemed slightly surprised before standing in the center and saying:
“I was ordered to come, where is the Qiankun Vajra?”
Li Qianfeng was slightly astonished and stood up to approach: “Li Qianfeng is here, I have seen the Arhat.”
“The Infinite Buddha Lord has sent me to gift a string of Buddha Beads to the Qiankun Vajra,” the Arhat said with a smile.
He obviously knew Li Qianfeng; his purpose in speaking so loudly was merely to bolster Li Qianfeng’s presence.
Sure enough, upon hearing the Arhat’s words, all the guests in the courtyard were stunned, looking at him in shock.
The Infinite Buddha Lord seated high atop Mount Wuliang was also supporting him?
Both Jian Wudao and Li Tian Gang’s expressions changed slightly, growing somewhat grim.
If that Buddha Lord intervened, even the master of Heavenly Sword Mountain’s arrival would be of no use.
“Had I known this earlier, Xue’er wouldn’t have needed to go through so much trouble,” Jian Wudao said, shaking his head. Now that he knew, he wouldn’t have needed to leave the mountain either.
Upon hearing this, Li Tian Gang shook slightly and sighed. Indeed, they were outmatched, but fortunately, connections were not decisive.
“Thank you, master.”
In front of everyone, Li Qianfeng received the Buddha Beads from the Arhat’s hand and expressed his thanks respectfully.
The Arhat smiled slightly, about to say something, when suddenly another voice came from behind:
“Announce!!”
“An edict from Emperor Yu has arrived, summoning the son of the Li Family, Li Hao, to receive the decree!!”
In an instant, the courtyard fell silent, still as death.